The Rivers Arms in West Dorset

Experience started off well - can't book dining online so e-mailed request and ended up having to phone - conversation was very friendly and welcoming. From then on it went down-hill. I have some restricted mobility and walk with a stick. Arrive at front of pub and realise its a steep flight of stairs to entrance. Manage up that, holding on to railing. OK welcome when we got in - we were early for our6pm booking but no problem although we were told kitchen doesn't start till 6 (says 5 on website). Where do we sit - here or upstairs - where's the toilet - upstairs - OK we'll sit upstairs. Two young kids around the bar (owner's presumably) - we order drinks and have to start carrying them and menus up steep and narrow stairs to the next floor. Has an eclectic look to the room, plus an external covered patio area. Everywhere has dirt / dead flies and isn't appealing. By then all hell had broken out in a very aggressive domestic back downstairs in the bar - manager and staff (wife?) - all about whether glasses were dirty - this had started in front of one of us while waiting for drinks to be poured - manager part poured a coke held it up and said glass is dirty - poured into another glass and said this one was dirty too - but then proceeded to fill the glass up and hand it over to the customer. The staff member (wife?) denied they were dirty and said she had cleaned them. As we sat upstairs the row just got louder and louder - and was clearly in front of the kids as well. We were the only customers and sat debating to order or to go. The argument suddenly stopped. We were feeling decidedly uncomfortable - no one came near us at 6 to see if we wanted to order. We decided to beat a retreat quickly and went back downstairs to pay for our drinks. The manager did ask us if there was a reason why we weren't staying - we didn't want to get into a conversation about the the appalling behaviour so just left.

Lovely quiet experience, a nice comfy stay.chalets are lovely and clean and well set up.

Terrific pub with a really dedicated owner/ landlord. So much effort has been made to create several different areas where one can eat and / or drink. It's a large building with a cosy front bar and a very pleasant conservatory. Upstairs is a library where food and drinks can be taken. Very smart! Various outdoor seating places and 2 verandas There are chalets to stay in, too. Food is homemade and of good quality. Good ingredients and large portions. Very reasonable prices. Good beer and other drinks. Regulars are very friendly and good fun. Good welcoming atmosphere, too. It's very clean, and all areas are well maintained as well as being interesting to be in. The landlord is really friendly and helpful. Just one sad note, it's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays out of season. The village is rural and small. However, it's very pretty and the pub is definitely worth the trip!!! Highly recommend and will stay there if we return to the area. Thanks to everyone who made us feel happy to be there!'

Lovely Place to Stay! Stayed here for the Tank Fest Weekend. Traveled from North Wales. Was made to feel very welcome on arrival, the host was very informative and answered helpfully on any questions. Room was perfect. Everything was catered for, although we had wifi issues but was nice and fast in the pub (didnt really mind the wifi issue in our room as nice to not to be using the phone all the time). Had dinner in the pub and also breakfast. Its a nice lively atmosphere, or you can go upstairs if you prefer more quiet area. Both were very satisfactory and the where a range of options. The chocolate brownie was one of the best i've ever had. Would stay again if we came this way.

Une catastrophe. Serveur débordé, tables salles, nourriture infecte, voire impropre à la consommation… le serveur n’était même pas sur de ce qu’il servait comme boisson

A disaster: terrible food, overwhelmed server, lousy atmosphere. The tables were dirty. Bad food, even unfit for consumption. Absolutely avoid…

Quiet and attractive location. The rooms are nice and clean. The owners are very friendly and helpful. Delicious English breakfast, vegetarian options also available.

We visited on a Saturday night before 6pm. Weather wasn't great so we were alone. Staff were very helpful and friendly, couldn't do enough to help us. We had steaks which were very good, it was a pleasure to frequent this establishment.

Me and my partner stayed here for 3 nights for my birthday and the owners made it very special and defiantly one to remember. As soon as you walk in it feels like a homely, family atmosphere and we received such a warm welcome. The food is lovely and the beds are so comfy. We will defiantly be returning as we feel we have made very good friends. Thanks again guys Dan and Sophie :)

Everything was tired and unkempt, Wi-Fi didn’t work and the tea making facilities were not good. Kettle had water marks etc inside and nothing was replaced over a few night stay. No TV and the outside needs a lot of tidying. Breakfast was very poor unfortunately and we only went once for a few night stay. Could not recommend and would not stay again.

Recently stayed here and would recommend to anyone visiting the area. The chalet/cabin rooms are lovely - very cosy and clean. The bed was nice and comfy. Being up a slope, set back from the pub, the room offered a great view of the surrounding countryside. The food was nice and reasonably priced, as were the drinks. We were made to feel very welcome and the owners were really accommodating. Would definitely considering staying here again if we're in the area.

Very welcoming and friendly hosts, lovely cabins and view, great food and as it states a cozy atmosphere, highly recommended

We spent two perfectly chilled days at the Rivers Arms. The location is beautiful and chalet accommodation, clean, warm and charming. The hosts/landlords, Will and Linny, were lovely and made us feel really at home. Nothing was too much trouble making our whole stay a delight. A family run business well worth visiting. We would highly recommend and look forward to staying there in the future. Thanks guys 👍

Mid week, mid day - very quiet. Food ok but not great for the price. Peas looked as if they had been out of the pot for a few days. no one else in the pub so no atmosphere. The barman / chef/ owner was very chatty when i went to the bar.

long weekend woth my husband. sucha peaceful idyllic location. amazing views, and quality well cooked food. and nothing is too much trouble for the hosts. definitely worth a visit.

Stayed here for bank holiday weekend lovely peaceful weekend away. Very welcoming lovely spacious clean well equipped cabin. Great food and good selection of drinks at the bar. Peaceful location away from the hassles of everyday life. Would recommend

A very peaceful and relaxing place with lovely and friendly hosts. They really couldn't do enough for you. Lots of choice of food! Such a convenient location for anyone travelling to the Tank museum.

Beautiful place with so much potential very quiet on our visit but with accommodation available may return should the atmosphere improve

Welcoming pub for our young family with our dog, good quality food with a quirky warming decor. I had the rump steak and the kids demolished the scampi and chips.

This wayside pub was a welcome retreat in some wet Dorset weather . We went in for coffee but stayed for some tapas as lunch . The place has quirky but comfy decor . The host/ new owner made us feel very welcome and chatted to us about the pub . We enjoyed our tapas. We would come again if we are out this way. The outdoor space will be lovely in the summer .

Top notch pub in peaceful location. The three cheeses were very tasty, as was the spotted pudding. Great selection of drinks on tap and optics. The guest rooms are comfortable, clean and quaint. Definitely coming back with the children next time! The owners were terrific hosts and made us feel so welcome. Highly recommended spot for a romantic or family break.

Late visit. Food and service very good. It was miserable weather and bar was very quiet

Loved The Rivers Arms! A real Dorset gem.

Fantastic pub. We had a wonderful evening. Professional, friendly service, great atmosphere, great drink. Highly recommended.

Came in for lunch, food was amazing and the owners were so incredibly nice, made us feel very welcome, such a homely pub will definitely be making it a regular

Beautiful place , lovely owners ,slept like a log, food very tasty, we will be back x

Adored this place. Stayed here for 4 nights as I had research to carry out at Bovington Tank Museum. The owners are a lovely couple with polite staff and interesting clientele. The food is of a very good standard using local produce with a good selection of ciders and beers on draught. The property is settled in a peaceful location ideal for anyone wishing to get away. Excellent value for money with the property being both close to Bovington Tank Museum and Stone Henge. Very well done and thank you for my stay

Had a lovely stay here with my.wife. We traveled down for a 2 night stay and were made to feel so welcome by the owners. The chalets were comfortable and quiet and as huge animal lovers, the free roaming Guinea pigs were the icing on the cake. Thank you for being such great hosts.

Spend two nights at the Rivrrs Arms. Good accommodation, and a wonderful cooked breakfast. Fantastic hosts.

A lovely meal,and great staff. Very friendly

Stayed here for 2 nights! On arrival we had a lovely warm welcome! The cabins are absolutely gorgeous! What a very peaceful place!

Disappointing . We did not receive the warm welcome that others mention. Felt like we shouldn’t be there at all when we got upstairs as the only vacant tables had chairs on top of them (feet of chairs on the table which doesn’t feel hygienic). Decking area was very untidy . Upstairs the inside area had stools on all the tables so couldn’t sit in there and then the lights were turned off meaning you had to walk through a dark room to access the toilets. Food was ok! Mostly overdone and not worth the money.

We were only here the one night but we found this out-of-the-way pub & accommodation outside of Dorchester, cosy, peaceful, and the hosts charming & friendly. Our hosts, Lynnie and William were respectively, generous & bubbly, and quietly efficient behind the scenes. Chalets were clean, compact and comfortable, and Lucy & Williams breakfast service fast & efficient. Would have liked to have stayed longer as the conversations had, were raucously fun & entertaining. Come here to stay as the villages are pretty and the hosts are awesome!

We had an amazing weekend at this little hideaway spot! We had just got off our honeymoon from corfu and needed a wind down before returning to family life! The staff were amazing and accommodating. Was definitely the wind down myself and my husband needed! Cannot reccomend enough. Will definitely be back!

Wow wow and wow. Spent 2 nights here as monkey world stop over, if I'd know then what I know now it would have been longer. Will and lyndl were amazing hosts. We felt like we were staying with friends as they were so warm and welcoming. The alpine lodges had everything you could want soo refreshing and relaxing even with the rain lol. The food was fantastic my fussy partner, when it comes to sausages, even asked where said sausages where from as he loved them so much. The guinea pigs were so cute just roaming about. Definitely staying here again

We met freinds for a Meal at the The Rivers Arms. Lovely meal. Thank you to Will, the owner and his staff for a great evening.

Clean room Food brilliant Shower excellent 👌 Now for everything else. Love the wildlife garden 😍 This has a good feel for the environment. love the quiet, love the cabin room. A lovely pub, with great food and excellent relaxing atmosphere. Will highly recommend. Just so relaxing after a day of sightseeing.

Really nice place although a bit off the beaten track. Cabins are nice and cosy but a bit of a steep climb which needs to be considered if you are not the fittest. Owner's are really helpful and friendly.

Great friendly pub with great food 👌

Amazing place currently staying here lovely and peaceful amazing.The service is lovely the food is just spot on amazing specials on offer if you are in the area definitely come for a visit or Evan stay the night in there lovely cabins with stunning Views wish I could rate it more then 5/5 will be coming back when down south again 😄

Didn't eat but had a few convivial drinks, lovely place and friendly service

We had a lovely lunch and the couple that run the place where lovely and atmosphere of the place was so warm and welcoming

We had a lovely time staying in the lodges in site. They were well looked after and clean. The owners were very accommodating and friendly. Added bonus was the unexpected addition of guinea pigs wondering around being very cute!

A true hidden gem! We do not know the area at all so it was such a delight to find somewhere hidden away. It's incredibly tranquil, green sceneries for as far as the eye can see! Wild, roaming guinea pigs; they are absolute characters with the craziest hair; and inquisitive cows a few metres away. The owner could not do enough for us, she truly went above and beyond to cater for our every need. Breakfast was ample, not too much as we do not like waste and wonderful sausages! We highly recommend and will definitely visit again.

This was a hidden gem. Lovely hosts, great food and just a lovely tranquil spot.

Exceptional stay, beautiful room with all you need, great food and staff (made too feel so welcome & left as friends - not guests) - perfect for peace & quiet, no tv which is great!! Just chill & recharge!! We will definitely be returning!!

Exceptional stay, beautiful room with all you need, great food and staff (made too feel so welcome & left as friends - not guests) - perfect for peace & quiet, no tv which is great!! Just chill & recharge!! We will definitely be returning!!

Warm friendly, perfect retreat from the day today bustle of life, great food with fantastic accommodation.

Fantastic place very friendly and quiet great place if you need a getaway from the hassle of work 5*

We stayed over the Easter weekend and had a fantastic time, Lovely location, great accommodation, Stayed in one of the chalet's, very cozy. Stunning undisturbed views very tranquil. Will & Linnie are great hosts. Thank you both very much. Rob & Elissa.

Fantastic food great atmosphere, would recommend. Will go back for sure.

Very friendly pub and the best ladies toilet I've ever seen, definitely worth a visit if yr in the area.

Fantastic place, hosts can't do enough for you. Good beer ( I'm a real ale fan, but good choice of other drinks too) and great food. Love the atmosphere too. Lovely people.

Full marks for food and service

We stayed here at the beginning of December in the cabins and ate at the restaurant,. They couldn't do enough to make our stay exceptional. We loved the cabins - very warm and cosy - even in December with snow! and everything was clean and smart. The food was fantastic - we had a range of dishes for dinner and the hearty breakfast was a good start to the day! Many thanks! We'll definitely be back!

Enjoyed lunch here. Real rural pub worth the trip. Just ensure the opening times. Not open every day. Nice fresh food.

Me and my partner stayed here for a few nights. It is an amazing place with such a welcoming atmosphere and delicious food. Cabins was very clean and cosy, the decor is fantastic. Nothing was too much for the staff who always greeted us with a smile. We will definitely be coming again.

We arrived just a few minutes before lunch service was due to closed, however we were met with such a warm and friendly welcome and told there was no problem serving us (sadly a rarity these days). We enjoyed freshly baked home made cheese scones and a coffee before we continued on our walk. Lovely people, we will definitely return next time we hike in this area.

My wife and I have just staying here for 2 nights. Couldn’t have been more happy. The cabins are exceptional, cosy and clean and the breakfast was good. The only slight criticism I have is the cabins don’t have a TV but nothing an iPhone can sort out. Would definitely stay again and would definitely recommend.

Lovely hidden gem of a pub with food and a delightful seating area upstairs

Unfortunately my experience at this Pub/Restaurant was a rather disappointing one. We placed our order at the bar. The bartender was polite and did give us some guidance to help us choose from the menu. We chose a few different items from the tapas on the menu; Nachos, Olives, Deep fried brie, 2 servings of Squid and the Chorizo. The most disappointing dish was the Nachos, these were very cheap tasting and had clearly just been chucked on a plate and microwaved with barely any cheese and the cheese hadn't melted properly. They were also flavoured nachos, like a rather cheap and nasty version of Doritos. To make things worse they were almost completely cold by the time they were served to us and we were the only ones eating in the restaurant so there was no excuse for this. The olives were fine and there was actually a very generous amount, more than enough in one serving even for two people, however they weren't particularly great olives and weirdly had sliced mushrooms in with them. The deep fried brie was not melted properly inside which made it unpleasant to eat. The squid was perfectly fine although nothing special and was yet again cold. Finally the Chorizo dish, this was actually really enjoyable, simple yet delicious but once again was almost completely cold which spoilt things. It was served with bread which tasted perfectly fine but was soft as if it had just been heated in the microwave. Overall this was a very unsatisfactory experience, to make things worse, each dish costed £5.99 coming out at over £17pp which would have paid for a main course in a restaurant of much higher quality. It is a shame as it feels only right to support local restaurants but its not worth wasting your money on very disappointing food. They could have at least served it warm. P.S. 2 Stars is frankly a generous rating. I am very generous with my ratings and tend to give most places I visit 4 or 5 stars but except from the bartender, who was polite and helpful, there was nothing to make this rating above 1 star.

Very friendly staff, delicious tapas, and great upstairs terrace.

Lovely pub with great food. We stayed in the chalet above the pub been lovely and stress free. Location is good aswel about half an hour Weymouth,durdle door, monkey world and the tank museum.

Stayed here recently and the experience was rather eventful. Food: Quite poor - wasn't great, they didn't have much available on the menu. If you plan to visit, bare in mind they stop serving food at 8pm - can be problematic if you arrive late after work one evening like we did, on a Friday! Luckily we got there at 8.10pm, and the male owner was happy to place our order as an exception. Breakfast was incredibly stingy (small portions), luckily they messed-up and over-ordered our requests, so my partner was able to eat two portions (he would have been hangry within the hour if not).. Cabins: Super cozy, modern and comfortable, also really clean. I'm tempted to reconvert the shed in my own garden.. Staff: The male owner was professional and friendly, but I'm afraid I can't say the same for the lady. Upon arrival on Friday we had already been pre-warned by our friends that the female owner wasn't very polite.. I'm all for keeping an open mind, however I definitely did not appreciate her waking me up at 3am, screaming at the top of her lungs (in which, she was directing her anger at fellow residents because they were being too noisy). I completely understand the frustration, but there is a way to handle such situations professionally - it was clear she had been drinking too, so the behavior was rather reckless and rowdy. All in all, I'd stay here again as the scenery and accommodation is wonderful. Perhaps consider this as constructive criticism, the location and accommodation is perfect (just a few issues to sort out with management and food).

Stayed here for a long weekend and wasn’t very impressed. Pricing is quite high for the area and the service given. We were quoted one price then charged another which wasn’t explained very well. The sheds are quite small but were clean and had kettle, hairdryer, towels etc. Staff at the facility seem nice but management are less accommodating. The food has really good reviews online but this wasn’t the case when we stayed, perhaps there has been a change of hands at the property.

Wonderful family business. Had the best time staying here - very clean, lovely breakfast and they cater for dietary requirements. The cabin is so wonderful, great views, in the nature and a lovely outside space. Would absolutely recommend - great value for money also.

We visited this pub on our way back from Dorchester. I had booked online & was looking forward to a Tapa's lunch as detailed on their website. Unfortunately on arrival we were given another menu & told Tapa's was only available in the evening. We decided to stay for a drink & the owner very kindly spoke to the chef & said he could offer us the evening menu. My son & I had the chicken & chirozo had quesadillla & my husband had ham, egg & chips. the food was lovely & fresh well presented & really tasty. This pub has a nice upsairs covered deck area & the family running it are very accomodating. We would definitely go back when in the area.

Our first visit to the Rivers Arms since the new owners re-opened recently Very pleasant sitting outside on the covered deck sampling the tapas menu with a dri nk.

My partner and I were looking forward to a 3 night stay to see in the New Year. Unfortunately on arrival, my partner became very ill and was unable to leave the room and unable to enjoy any of the surroundings or even have the breakfast that was included in the cost of our stay. We had to leave a day early. I asked the owner if she would be willing to give us a part refund or credit us with a night to come back another time as a gesture of goodwill as our New Year was ruined due to illness. I was very upset that she was unwilling to do this for us, knowing our unfortunate circumstances. We will return to the area another time but will choose to stay elsewhere.

Stayed a week at The Rivers Arms, loved the individual cabins. Great location, fabulous food and such a lovely team of staff who couldn’t do enough to make our stay relaxing and great! Thank you

4 nights here,what a find.excellent in everyway.very comfortable accommodation, wonderful home cooked food on the menu and staff extremely friendly and helpful.ideally located for all popular places in Dorset.

Very peaceful location that appeared to be in the middle of nowhere but in reality was near to all the attractions. Good breakfast and evening food. Very welcoming and staying in log cabins was novel. Small hiccup at the start, over heating and hot water...

My self and partner stayed for 3 nights, the wooden challets warm ,clean and cosy ,without seeming small. No TV, no bother, so not kept awake by other people's and to be honest ,if tv is important to you, stay at home. The Food served...

Fantastic family run Pub with great food and fantastic accommodation. We only stayed for a one night but we will be staying longer next time.

This is our second visit to The River Arms, a place we can unwind have the tastiest meals ever, the breakfast is perfect with no taste of oil, just the natural taste of each item, you help your self to cereal, fresh orange or apple...

We had a two night stay here at end of August. Set in a beautiful part of the country this is a unique place. Quirky but in a great way! The rooms are cabins set in the hill above the pub. They come with a...

Had lunch today at this beautiful pub, it is a fantastic and quirky unique building with a lovely wooden roof terrace, inside seating and a conservatory at the front. Staff were lovely and friendly and the menu was on a chalk board, lots of choice...

Went for lunch at the Rivers Arms on Monday with visiting family, six of us in all - everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food, we sat on the outside deck, a really lovely afternoon thanks Ann

A village pub in the depths of Dorset with log cabins. A little tight for space but well appointed. Exceptionally cheerful and engaging staff. Excellent fayre in a very homely surrounding. This was exactly what we were looking for in the middle of a three-week...

This pub is about a 20 minute drive from Dorchester in the country side. The road to it from the main road is about 2 miles and is narrow in places. The accommodation is a small lodge type wooden building up a steep slope from...

The Rivers Arms we have just spent 2 nights at the rivers arms in dorchester, the rooms are amazing and so quiet and relaxing, the views are out of this world, the staff and owners are so helpful, friendly and nothing is too much trouble...

Had our 2nd stay here and it was just as good as the first time. Anne is a great host and very helpful as are all the staff. The log cabins are lovely and it’s quite refreshing to find there is no television in the...

Great food and atmosphere. Really friendly staff and reasonable prices. Clean and welcoming. Lovely mix of locals and visitors. Good if you just want a drink a meal or a break away in their log cabins . A really great taste of rural Dorset

Didn't have a TV only a few spaces for cars to park at the top of the steep Hill. Our cabin was in direct sunlight and it was boiling. Very basic accommodation, only 2 rooms bedroom and bathroom. We was told on arrival that there...

The Rivers Arms is a little gem of a place tucked away in the countryside about 10 miles from Dorchester. Spotlessly clean with an excellent restaurant for evening meals, a superb full English breakfast is included in the price. The staff were very kind and...

We were camping nearby in South Lytchett. The two pubs near to the campsite couldn’t accommodate us, so we drove to the Rivers Arms. This turned out to be a great choice. The owners were lovely and the food was amazing. Beautifully made Chicken, ham...

From the minute we arrived, Anne made us feel so welcome and showed us to our lovely cabin which was so clean and had lots of extras which was a lovely touch. The bed was comfy and we had a lovely table & chairs outside...

Went there last week with friends a cabin each at the top of the rise with great views, Owners very friendly & helpful, and due to current covid restrictions were unable to clean rooms or change milk coffee tea etc but just asked the owners...

Great location away from the city, I had the opportunity to eat several times in this bar, a few days ago I was there with my husband. The chef just knows what he is doing, the food they serve is delicious, fresh, we ordered a...

Our first visit and we had the three course Christmas meal and stayed the a night in a cabin. Well, I am still smiling about it! There is nothing to fault... fantastic value, clean, spotless, cosy and comfortable, with character and style. The food and...

Stopped here for a one night break 12 Dec 2020. If you are looking for a relaxing break with nice hosts this is the place. We had a cozy log cabin with central heating a comfortable bed and a large shower, coupled with great food...

We've just had a very nice lunch for 2 in this wonderful pub. Lovely food with service to match and all at a very reasonable price

My wife and I stayed at The Rivers Arms for a few nights in the cabin accommodation. The cabin was spotless. Central heating and a piping hot powerful shower was a bonus. Cooked breakfast was fresh and hot each morning along with cereal and juices....

Lovely little cabins, perfect for what we needed. Beds are super comfy and everything felt super clean. There was a fan provided which was a lovely surprise. Baths room was spacious and the shower was really warm and powerful. Staff were super polite and really...

Charming and stupendous!!!!!! Very cozy and quaint. Perfect for what we needed to get out of busy London. The staff were so lovley and helpful. We felt very at home and content.

We are just packing after a 2 night stay here where we used the Rivers Arms as our base to explore our favourite places in Dorset. The cabins are superb. Clean and cosy with comfortable beds and great showers! Breakfast is plentiful and well cooked,...

This accommodation is unique, quaint and good value for money. We were accommodated for a week in one of the alpine wooden chalets behind the pub. The hosts, Anne and Victor were most accommodating. The cabin was warm clean with an ensuite. The shower...

We stayed here in late September. The owners are friendly, the food is great and available all day which is really handy. The breakfast is amazing with lots of choice and very freshly cooked. The rooms are beautifully clean and the fact that they are...

I stayed for 2 nights in the 'Cabins', they were very clean & comfortable. Breakfast was excellent & we all ate for the evening meal as it was extremely well prepared & very tasty. Would definitely stay again, thank you

Well done to everyone involved in making this a cracking place to visit. We only had beer but it really was that good that I felt compelled to write my first ever trip advisor review. I could ramble on but wont. If you find yourself...